The Iliad 9.220–224

and Patroclus cast burnt-offering into the fire. So they put forth their hands to the good cheer lying ready before them. But when they had put from them the desire of food and drink, Aias nodded to Phoenix; and goodly Odysseus was ware thereof, and filling a cup with wine he pledged Achilles:

Πάτροκλον ὃν ἑταῖρον· ὃ δʼ ἐν πυρὶ βάλλε θυηλάς. οἳ δʼ ἐπʼ ὀνείαθʼ ἑτοῖμα προκείμενα χεῖρας ἴαλλον. αὐτὰρ ἐπεὶ πόσιος καὶ ἐδητύος ἐξ ἔρον ἕντο, νεῦσʼ Αἴας Φοίνικι· νόησε δὲ δῖος Ὀδυσσεύς, πλησάμενος δʼ οἴνοιο δέπας δείδεκτʼ Ἀχιλῆα·

Lattimore commentary

Odysseus interposes himself, although Aias had signaled to Phoinix, perhaps because he believes his skill is greater than the older man’s; the resulting order of speeches nicely juxtaposes the clever compromiser and the defender of the extreme heroic ideal. A significant quarrel between Achilleus and Odysseus, at a sacrifice, is alluded to in Od. 8.75; throughout the Iliad one detects tension between the men.

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